Donald Trump’s presidential campaign on Friday applauded Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus’ decision to suspend the committee’s partnership with NBC News for a February Republican debate.
“The campaign supports the RNC’s decision to suspend the debate on February 26th due to the total lack of substance and respect exhibited during Wednesday’s night’s debate. We look forward to pursuing alternatives along with the RNC to ensure candidates are given ample opportunity to outline their vision for the future of our country,” a statement from Trump’s campaign reads.
In a letter to NBC, Priebus said that since CNBC’s debate on Wednesday “was conducted in bad faith,” the RNC cannot continue to work with NBC until the committee consults with the Republican presidential campaigns. He tore into the CNBC moderators and their questions.
“While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates’ visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC’s moderators engaged in a series of ‘gotcha’ questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates. What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates’ policies and ideas,” Priebus wrote.
Following the CNBC debate, numerous candidates and commentators blasted CNBC’s performance. Trump complained that the moderators were harder on the Republican candidates than the CNN moderators were at the first Democratic presidential debate.
Numerous candidates plan on meeting over the weekend to discuss changes to the debate formats going forward without a representative from the RNC, according to Politico.
